How to treat a jammed finger?
Many people have dislocated a finger at some point in their lives. While these minor injuries often occur while playing sports such as basketball, they can also be the result of falling onto an outstretched hand or catching your finger between two objects.
Jammed fingers can be extremely painful and require immediate treatment to aid healing. If the finger is broken, a lack of treatment can lead to arthritis or other debilitating conditions, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Symptoms of a jammed or dislocated finger include
- pain
- inability to straighten or bend your finger
- crooked or swollen finger
- numbness, tingling or pale color in the finger
The first thing you can do on your own for a jammed finger is to remove all rings from the hand, then ice and elevate the injured finger to minimize swelling. Apply ice for 15 minutes, wait until the finger temperature returns to normal and repeat the process. After the swelling goes down and the pain diminishes, try to move the finger very slightly. If the injury is mild, you will be able to move it with little discomfort after a short time.
If your finger has a break in the skin, feels cold or numb, or looks pale, seek medical attention right away. After taking an x-ray of your finger, your physician may prescribe a splint to minimize motion or may “buddy tape” your injured finger to an adjacent finger to keep it straight and protected as the tendon or bone heals.
During the healing process and with your physician’s advice, we will recommend a series of strengthening exercises to ensure that your finger mends quickly and properly. We will prescribe assisted finger stretches and finger bends, along with resistance exercises using a rubber band. This exercise regimen will focus on protecting the injured finger, strengthening it and maximizing your range of motion so that your hand can get back to normal functioning as soon as possible.
Make sure a jammed finger doesn’t leave you with a permanent injury. After seeing your physician, visit us. We can help you get your finger out of whatever jam it got into.
Related Articles:
February PTEdigest includes:
Do Muscle Creams Eliminate the Need for Exercise?
Giving Your Knee a Lube Job
Rewiring the Brain After a Stroke
Unjamming a Jammed Finger
Activity Trackers: The Ideal Motivator
Download PTeDigest February
FAQs
Apply ice for 15 minutes, wait until the finger temperature returns to normal and repeat the process. After the swelling goes down and the pain diminishes, try to move the finger very slightly. If the injury is mild, you will be able to move it with little discomfort after a short time.
How long does a jammed pointer finger take to heal? ›
Summary. A jammed finger is a common injury that's usually not serious. Icing, resting, and taping a jammed finger is often enough to allow it to heal in a week or two. However, if you can't move the finger or it hurts too much to move it, you'll need an X-ray to make sure it's not broken or dislocated.
Is it good to stretch a jammed finger? ›
Finger Stretch
To improve range of motion, flexibility, and decrease pain in the fingers. Place your hand flat with palm down on a flat surface (ex: a table). Slowly straighten your fingers as flat as you can without forcing anything.
Does pulling on a jammed finger help? ›
It is a common misconception that the individual or a coach should attempt to “pull it out” to realign it—this is not the case. Rather, the finger should be splinted and the person should seek medical attention.
How do NBA players treat jammed fingers? ›
As with any trauma-induced swelling, the popular "RICE" method should be used on a jammed finger. This involves resting it, icing it, compressing it with a wrap and elevating it.
How can I speed up the healing of a jammed finger? ›
Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it (such as playing basketball) while your finger heals. Ice: Ice the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, especially within the first 24 hours. Put ice in a towel or plastic bag rather than directly on your skin.
What's the quickest way to unjam a finger? ›
Apply ice for 15 minutes, wait until the finger temperature returns to normal and repeat the process. After the swelling goes down and the pain diminishes, try to move the finger very slightly. If the injury is mild, you will be able to move it with little discomfort after a short time.
What not to do with a jammed finger? ›
Take a break from sports or activities that may reinjure or further injure the finger.
Is it OK to leave a jammed finger alone? ›
A jammed finger needs to be treated. Sometimes the injury is minor enough that you can take care of it at home. For a more severe injury, you'll need medical treatment to prevent permanent damage to your finger. It can be difficult to determine if you have a mild or more severe injury.
Should I keep a jammed finger straight or bent? ›
Doctors commonly treat a jammed finger with a splint, which is a brace that keeps the finger straight and stable while the damaged ligaments heal.
Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes a black-and-blue colour that may become purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green as the bruise heals. Rest and home treatment can help you heal.
How can you tell if a finger is broken or just jammed? ›
While jammed fingers are less serious than a fracture, you will still experience bruising and swelling; and even with a broken bone, you may have a limited range of motion. If you injured your hand and are experiencing swelling and bruising, the best way to know for sure is to get an x-ray of your fingers.
What do you wrap a jammed finger with? ›
To buddy tape fingers, use medical cloth tape. Medical cloth tape is woven in such a way that it can be easily torn along either crosswise or lengthwise. It is also waterproof and has less "give" than other, less-sturdy tapes. Medical tape can be cut lengthwise to fit.
Can a jammed finger heal in 3 days? ›
Most of the time a jammed finger will get better on its own within a week or two. But even with treatment, your finger may stay swollen or sensitive for many months. During recovery, try to use the finger as little as possible while it heals.
How do you know if a jammed finger is serious? ›
While jammed fingers are less serious than a fracture, you will still experience bruising and swelling; and even with a broken bone, you may have a limited range of motion. If you injured your hand and are experiencing swelling and bruising, the best way to know for sure is to get an x-ray of your fingers.
How do you know if you jammed your pointer finger? ›
Some common symptoms of a jammed finger include pain in the injured area, redness and swelling, weak feeling in the finger, and inability to extend the finger fully. Jamming a finger is a prevalent sports injury often due to having your hand absorb the impact of catching a ball.
